For an off-the-grid satellite communication device, the Zoleo offers a solid build to survive a backcountry beatdown for most ski adventures.

Let the safety checks ensue. 72 hours in, here’s the burning question: what does a passed test mean in terms of day-to-day in-the-field beacon reliability?

PIEPS and Black Diamond Equipment Avalanche Transceiver / Beacon Safety Check: A press release from Black Diamond.

Simple, bomber, reliable: The Rocky Talkie radio serves as an effective means for radio communication while backcountry skiing.

Prepping for backcountry medical emergencies is key: the Wilderness Medicine Reference is an app to help augment your medical know-how when it hits the fan.

Using a basic compass in conjuntion with a mobile navigation app is a smart way to conserve phone batteries: here’s a how-to for using GPS bearings.

First Look: Zoleo enters the satellite communication market with a tidy card-deck size unit that provides messaging capabilities when off the grid.

In the wide-open space that is digitial ski tour planning, I needed some direction: Backcountry Nav’s online class helped me find a path forward.

With savvy industrial design, the Rocky Talkie radios might be what you are looking for when it comes to ruggedness and backcountry ski radio comms.

Group to group communication while backcountry skiing is tricky, an initiative on Snoqualmie Pass aims to help promote inter-group awareness.